Managing People Experiencing a Mid-Career Slump

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LindaMore

Where's all the energy gone?

Trevor used to be the kind of guy who said "yes!" to every new project, who dug deep with his research, and delivered confident, concise reports. He was an energetic part of the team, and people came to rely on him and his experience.

Now, Trevor's silent in meetings, he's reluctant to take on new work, and he can be hard to track down when you need him. He's absent mentally, too, and it's not just a phase. He's simply not the happy, constructive and productive co-worker he used to be.

So what's changed?

Your team member has "lost his mojo" and you'll need to find out why, for both your sakes. But the good news is that Trevor has a fair chance of recovering ground, and even reaching new heights – if you can support him and show him the way.

Just as college students might experience the "sophomore slump" after their freshman burst of energy, many professionals can fall into a slump during their careers. This can take them and their managers by surprise, as it comes after years of high performance.

In this article, we'll look at how a "mid-career slump" develops and what the symptoms look like, so you can spot them early. Then we'll introduce some simple approaches to help you tackle, and guard against, the causes....